Target



Jan. 19, 1932. J. B. SEMPLE TARGET Filed Aug. 24, 1929 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITE@ STATES JOHN B. SEMPLE, F SEVTICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA TARGET Application filed August 24, 1929. Serial No. 388,083.

My invention relates to targets, and consists in a target which possesses structural features adapting it to use in competitive marlismanship.

s, The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. I is a view in elevation of a target built according to my invention, detached from its support; Fig. II is a diagrammatic view in plan and lo to smaller scale of a lfiring range with the target of Fig. I in place. Fig. III shows in plan from above and in front elevation still another embodiment.

In competitive marlsmanship it becomes i necessary to make tests, not of accuracy merely, but of speed in firing also. In testing the qualifications of applicants for positions as policemen, for example, two applicants equipped with revolvers are required to compete simultaneously: Both are stationed before the target, and the point to be determined is, which will be first to hit the target. Ordinarily, the target takes the form of a clay pigeon, suspended in position; a claypigeon is provided for each contestant; and an umpire stands by, whose duty it is to say which clay pigeon is first broken. There is, necessarily, an element of uncertainty in the umpires judgment, and it isV to the elimination of that element of uncertainty that my invention is directed. Instead of providing a plurality of targets, one for each contestant, I pr-ovide a single target on which the two contestants simultaneously open fire. The target is dide'rently responsive to hits by the two contestants, and, by a selection which is automatic, affords infallible and manifest indication, which contestant makes the first hit.

The target itself consists of a body of convenient material and form;, its essential characteristic is that it simultaneously presents two target faces. This body, in simplest form, may be a single, suitably shaped l sheet of metal, and in Fig. I such a sheet of metal, l, is diagrammatically shown. The field a--b-c-cl may be of any desired shape and size. It is here shown to be square; manifestly, it might be so modified that when seen obliquely from the firing station,

in the arrangement presently to be described, it would present to the marlsman a truly square area or a'truly circular area. The sheet presents on itsv opposite sides two such areas, ai-b-c-(Z.

The sheet l is pivotally mounted, to be maintained in vertical position by a light spring latch. As a matter of convenience and advantage, it is shown in Fig. I to include, in addition to the field a-b-c-fZ, a prolonged stem 2. Fig. I indicates that the sheet is to be pivotally mounted at its lower edge 3,`and in Fig. II such a sheet is indicated to be mounted on a horizontally eX- tending support-4, which may be understood to bea board. A light spring latch 5 sustains the sheet in vertical poistion. Pads 6 may be provided to sustain the impact of the sheet when it falls to one side or the other.

The target is placed as indicated in Fig. II.

Two contestants take their places at the stations M, N, equidistant on either side from the vertical plane in which the sheet l extends, and equidistant from the target. To these two contestants so stationed the target presents, on its two sides, opposite fields. On a given signal the contestants simultaneously open fire. The spring 5, suilicient otherwise to sustain the target in vertical position, is not sufcient to sustain it under impact of a bullet. The contestant who iirst hits the target will knock it down; and the target will fall to right or left, as one or the other contestant makes the hit: If it be the man on the left ,Y

who hit it, it will fall to the right, and vice versa, it will fall to the left if the man on the right first hits it. Thus the fall of the target to one side or the other gives infallible indication which contestant has made the first hit.

Thestem of the standing target might, manifestly, be screened and so protected from the chance impact of a bullet.

Fig. III indicates that the target may be formed of a sheet 12 bent to angular shape and may be mounted at the point 32 of the angle, to swing on a vertical pivot. In this case, it will be understood, the spacing of the contestants will be so wide that but one of the A ioc each. Impact of a bullet will cause the target to swing on its vertical axis, in one direction or the other, according as the contestant at one station or the other makes the hit.

I claim as my invention:

1. A target structure for simultaneous comtition in marksmanship including, in comination with a xed support, a target borne by and adapted to be moved on such support from an intermediate position to either of two opposite lateral positions, such target being provided with two faces and, when standing in intermediate position on its support, presenting simultaneously its two faces severally to two contestants and being movable in response to impact of a missile upon one or the other of its faces, and a latch adapted to be rendered ineffective by the momentum of :i missile striking the target and holding the target in such intermediate position.

2. A target structure for simultaneous competition in marksmanship including a support, a target mounted on said support and presenting opposite fields to two marksmen standing apart, and adapted to fall under gravity from an intermediate position to right or to left in response to impact upon one field or the other, and a spring latch adapted to hold the target in such intermediate position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JUHN B. SEMPLE. 

